The legislation requires that doctors must perform a sonogram at least two hours before an abortion and has additional language instructing doctors to describe the sonogram and details of the baby to the mother. SB 16 passed by a vote of 21- 10 with 18 Republican legislators voting for the bill.
UPDATE 5/11/11: Abortions Restricted via Texas Sonogram Law
-- From "Texas Senate Republicans Pass Sonogram Bill" by Texas GOP Vote 2/19/11
The Sonogram bill now moves on to the Texas House of Representatives where our Republican super-majority is expected to approve the measure with little delay.
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From "Texas Senate panel OKs abortion sonogram bill" by Joe Holley and Bobby Cervantes, Austin Bureau, The Houston Chronicle 2/10/11
The Senate passed bills in 2007 and 2009 that included sonogram provisions, but those efforts died in the House.
"This is an issue about empowering women," said [state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston], an outspoken abortion opponent. "What this bill does is remove the barrier that is placed in front of women now from getting information they're entitled to."
Opponents of Patrick's bill, including a Planned Parenthood physician and other doctors, told committee members the bill is an unwarranted legislative intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship. They also said it is a potential waste of resources if the patient already had a sonogram performed by her primary care physician.
Patrick . . . said a former Planned Parenthood employee told him that women were discouraged from seeing their sonograms.
Patrick's bill seeks to build on the Woman's Right to Know Act, approved in 2003, that requires doctors to inform women considering abortion about a range of options before going through with the procedure.
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From "Texas Senate approves abortion sonogram bill" by Peggy Fikac, Austin Bureau, The Houston Chronicle 2/18/11
The bill was declared an emergency measure by Gov. Rick Perry, allowing for its quick consideration. Perry praised the Senate approval and said he looks forward to speedy House action.
"We know that when someone has all the information, the decision to choose life becomes clear," Perry said.
Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, a doctor, said . . . an abortion is the only medical procedure with the object to kill a human being.
"Can we not at least give the baby at least one more chance for survival by giving that mother that information?" he asked.
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